Abstract

AHIPUTANA VIS-À-VIS DIAPER DERMATITIS: A REVIEW

*Dr. Chris Antony

Abstract

Diaper dermatitis or napkin rashes is a ubiquitous problem in the pediatric OPD. The condition is referred to as Ahiputana, Gudakuttaka, Mathrukadosha, Prishtaru and Anamaka in Ayurvedic classics. It is caused by improper care of infants and children requiring diapering and is also said to be caused by stanyadushti (vitiated breast milk). The disease is characterised by erythema, papules, pustules, ulcer, erosions, etc in the anal region. The condition has close resemblance with diaper dermatitis which encompasses irritant contact diaper dermatitis, candidial diaper dermatitis, perianal infectious dermatitis, etc and is comorbid with atisara-grahani rogas, putana graha, ksheeralasaka, charmadala, etc. The treatment involves avoidance of causes, stanyasodhana (purification of breast milk), applications like tarkshyasaila, decoctions for cleansing, powders for dusting, etc. as per the condition of the rash and doshas involved. A deeper knowledge of ahiputana and diaper dermatitis will definitely pave way for development of better management guidelines which can give considerable relief to the infants and their caregivers. Hence a thorough review of ahiputana and diaper dermatitis was done and presented in this article.

Keywords: Gudakuttaka, stanyadushti, ksheeralasaka, charmadala, diaper-dermatitis, tarksyasaila.